CLASSIFYING THE HOUSING MARKET: YAPPIES TO GRAMPIES

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

While Yuppies get a lot of mention in the media, there`s more to the Chicago-area population than young urban professionals, says Kathi Reifeiss, resident property manager of the Colonies, a 672-unit rental complex in south suburban Steger.

''Every segment of the population has specific attributes and needs, which must be served--young, old, married, single, aspiring and contented,''

said Reifeiss, whose Colonies complex serves a diversity of residents. She added: ''The main thing is that each person, of whatever age or social or economic condition, is a unique individual. Labels can be informative, or even fun, but it`s the person who counts.''

Demographers, who focus on specific market segments, may dance to a different drummer, however. And real estate demographers have come up with these precise, if slightly tongue-in-cheek, definitions of housing prospects, as reported in a recent issue of Multi-Housing News:

Trendies, in their late 20s, are well-educated and ambitious, but with strongly individualistic tastes. Incomes, which vary, finance a faster-lane lifestyle.

Scampies (societally conscious, affluent, mature parents), aged 35 to 45, still believe in a lifestyle with ''causes.'' Their prime focus is on quality of life, their own and their environment`s.

Treaders, described as ''ageless,'' are survivors. If they don`t make much money, they don`t really care. As renters, they are very price conscious, wanting bread-and-butter housing without costly amenities, except maybe a pool.

Grumpies (grown up mature persons), aged 55 to 70, are middle-aged achievers with high incomes. If they rent, they usually take an extra bedroom to lure their grown-up children home for visits while preserving their privacy.

Grampies, aged 65 and up, form the largest untapped multihousing market, according to Multi-Housing News, which explains: ''They are overhoused and overburdened. They have too much space and too many maintenance headaches. A low-maintenance/high-service multihousing unit has a natural appeal.''

But the ''mother lode'' of the multihousing market, according to the article, is the YMCAs (young married childless achievers), aged 28 to 39.